Plot so thin, it passes unnoticed.

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

Watch something else. There are very few redeeming qualities to this film.

Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

Love parts of the show but the alpha-male driven Atz (who drives the show's direction) is an egomaniac. His insistence on promoting his self-centered son, Atz Lee - who spent half his life away but came back to be on the show (and is a moron) weakens the production. Add his wife Jane and I sometimes change the channel. Read their history and watch the first few years when Atz Lee arrived and see the 'transformation' folks. Many of the rest of the family are wonderful. Otto and his clan are great, unpretentious, and intelligent. Eiven and Eve are salt of the earth and just a joy to watch and listen to... solid people. Charlotte is a sweetie. Bonnie (Atz's wife) is a sweetie and it is obvious she just watches the two alpha's and keeps quiet. Ironically Atz Lee's brother (Nikos and Shane) appear well rounded, intelligent and down to earth... suggest they feature them and cut the stupid son...

Since I started watching the show I have watched it every week and really enjoy seeing how they all use the skills they have been taught and learnt throughout their life. It just shows how different life is with families like them and us city slickers. I know the Kilchers have the power tools and farm machinery but using what they can from the land is one thing they are known for. Growing and catching their food and making other things is something that is knowing you have achieved something worthwhile. These sort of programmes are interesting to watch and you can also learn a few things. Another thing about this show is how family help each other and are willing to get in and do whatever needs doing no matter what the weather is.

Might be a good satire, these folks have more equipment than most townships and villages in AK. I'm sorry to say, holding your thumb on top of a piece of firewood you are going to strike with an axe shows a real lack of common sense! I know several people in the lower 48 who would make a better show, and wouldn't have to plan special events to keep the camera crew happy, that is if the crew could handle the job! Almost every family in rural America back in the 50's had it worse than these folks. P.S. and yes, AXE is spelled AXE! And in order to post a review there must be a 10 lines of text!

However cornball it might sound... I like programs like "Alaska -- the Last Frontier", with intelligent people behaving sensibly.I should point out that these people /do not/ lead a "subsistence" lifestyle, which would require that they make everything they need. They have access to power tools (some of them Very Large) and store-bought supplies in an emergency. Still, it's sobering to see people who spend most of their time doing the work needed to support themselves, rather than in vain pursuits.Otto is the unintentional star. He's extremely intelligent and has an ironic, self-deprecating sense of humor. (The sequence in which he blows up a stump and brags about it is classic.) The show would be merely "good" without him.As for the "excessive" killing... If you're not a vegetarian, you have no right to complain. The domestic animals have led uncaged lives, and are killed humanely. (I loved it when Otto had his son kill a favorite cow that wouldn't have made it through the Winter. Instead of the animal dying on its side, it ends up on its back, with its legs angled in "dead cockroach" position.)I'm 66 years old and have heard theme songs for scores of TV shows. "Alaska -- the Last Frontier" has absolutely the worst. The lyrics and melody are either consciously cornball C&W -- or the writers are idiots. They've got to be kidding... (It seems he song was written and sung by Atz Lee! My condemnation nevertheless stands.)"Sometimes it's blood, sweat, and tears On Alaska, the last frontier. But life is simple, life is good, When you're livin' like you should. Hey! Hey! Sometimes it's struggle 'n strife Fathers, sons, brothers, wifes. But we're makin' our way, And yes, we'll stay Right here! On Alaska, the last frontier!"How about "Life is simple, life is good, when you've got takeout Chinese food." Well, it is, isn't it?